WASHINGTON - It has something like the feel of 2005, when someone posted a sign that read "Five in a row or we don't go!" in the locker room.

The Washington Redskins, 5-6 at the time without much of an offense, then somehow won five in a row to claim a wild-card berth.

Or maybe it's more like 2007, when the Redskins dropped to 5-7 after a coaching blunder: Joe Gibbs' decision to call back-to-back timeouts, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. That allowed Chicago to move much closer to kick a winning field goal.

Nevertheless, riding a swell of emotion in the aftermath of the death of safety Sean Taylor, those Redskins took their next four and again claimed a spot in the playoffs - beating Dallas, of all teams, to finish the job.

But really, 2012 is something else altogether.

These Redskins were 3-6 on Nov. 4. They had just lost what coach Mike Shanahan had proclaimed a "must win" against Carolina, which entered the game 1-6.

New tune for Shanahan

And while Shanahan can massage it all he wants - and he's tried to, in many different ways - he clearly no longer had realistic postseason goals when he spoke after that game.

Shanahan said, among other things: "You lose a game like that, now you're playing to see who obviously is going to be on your football team for years to come."

Shanahan clarified his remarks two days later, telling the players in the final meeting before the off-week break that the playoffs remained a possibility. Still, even a veteran like Barry Cofield couldn't envision an NFC East title.

"I thought we needed to win the next game, but I definitely did not look that far in advance," Cofield said.

"It was a low point for us. The bye came at a perfect time. We came back and were energized."

Rarely seen reversal

So as it turned out, that Panthers game wasn't a must win. But every game since then has been.

Six wins later, the Redskins (9-6) are definitely not a team playing "for years to come." They're playing for this year's division championship, attempting to become the first team since the 1996 Jaguars to rally from 3-6 to the playoffs.

The winner between the Redskins and Cowboys (8-7) on Sunday night takes the NFC East. Dallas will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss. Washington can lose and still get a wild-card spot, but only if the Bears and Vikings lose.

Shanahan said he will tell his players that it will be a game they'll remember for the rest of their lives. The fact they've been playing on the brink for a month and a half should have them well-prepared.

Washington has exorcised several demons this year. Now they can clinch their first division title since 1999.

"Everything we've been working for comes back to this weekend, taking advantage of what we've done over the last six weeks," Shanahan said.